Clinton to Sportsmen's Groups: We Must Protect America's Public LandsThursday, September 8, 2016
By: Casey Skeens

Trump, Johnson, Stein Also Invited to Commit to Public Lands Protection

The National Wildlife Federation Action Fund today released a letter it received from Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for president, committing to protect America’s public lands. Clinton’s letter is in response to a letter from more than 40 sportsmen’s organizations that include National Wildlife Federation writing to Secretary Clinton, the Republican nominee Donald Trump, the Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson, and Green Party nominee Jill Stein urging them to commit to protecting America’s public lands. Mr. Trump, Gov. Johnson, and Ms. Stein have not yet responded but the organizations will continue urging them to do so.

“America's public lands must remain public and available to all Americans, for all time,” wrote Hillary Clinton. “We are challenged as never before to collaborate together at all levels, from farmers to hunters and anglers to city councils and tribal governments, to protect and manage our public lands in a way that honors current and future generations, and helps to sustain our economy and way of life.”

The 40-plus organizations, representing millions of hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers and other outdoors enthusiasts, are asking candidates to publicly commit to “keeping public lands in public hands,” seeking their public endorsement of a statement of principles that opposes turning over public lands to individual states, selling them to private interests or undermining federal management of the lands that belong to all Americans.

“At a time when a small group of lawmakers representing a handful of extremists and special interests continues trying to give away America’s outdoor heritage, we’re asking politicians of all political stripes to take a stand to protect our public lands and the wildlife and communities that depend on them,” said Collin O’Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund. “We’re urging candidates across party lines and at all levels — presidential, congressional and state — to commit to keeping America’s public lands in public hands and to keeping them healthy and strong for our children and grandchildren. We applaud Hillary Clinton’s pledge to keeping public lands in public hands, and we look forward to Donald Trump affirming his support for America’s public lands.”

Voters in seven key Western states oppose states taking control of federal public lands by a nearly two-to-one margin (58 percent to 33 percent), according to the bipartisan 2016 Conservation in the West Poll.

The National Wildlife
Federation Action Fund is the 501(c)4 grassroots lobbying arm of the
National Wildlife Federation. NWF Action
Fund is an organization that advocates for the conservation interests of
hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life and political
stripes. We are committed to encouraging participation in the democratic
process and inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future. www.nwfactionfund.org.